Column

By now, everyone in Mumbai must have received the SMS that purports to mock Raj Thackeray on the grounds that the much-reviled north Indians had to come to Mumbai to save the situation after the terror attack. The purpose of the message, which has been passed around gleefully and has made it to the newspapers, is not to make fun of locals at all; it is to show up Thackeray for his misguided hate campaign against uttar Bharatiyas.

Think of Thackeray as a symbol here. He indulges in extremism, so he invites reaction. His brand of politics brought Mumbai to its knees a few weeks ago and it left many citizens frustrated; they are just getting back at him. But the mood in the city at this moment is against the political class on the whole.

As a city more concerned with money and commerce, Mumbai has never really had much time for politicians. Unlike Delhi, where politicians and their flunkeys are a critical part of the city’s DNA, Mumbaikars view politicians in a slightly distasteful way, preferring to keep their distance from them. The power structure is different here, with corporate honchos at the top of the ladder and over the years, the politicians, especially urban bred have adjusted themselves to that reality. SK Patil, Rajni Patel and Murli Deora are the kind of politicians who could emerge only in Mumbai. Even Sharad Pawar, though hailing from Baramati, quickly got into the Mumbai groove.

In recent years, that kind of politician has been overtaken by either moffusil types who came from the hinterland and tried to impose their culture and values on to this city (and occasionally succeeded) or local rabble rousers who have gone in for chauvinism, which always has some value as a currency. Not surprisingly, the average Mumbaikar’s hostility has only increased. Politicians are seen not as builders but destroyers; they do not believe in inclusiveness, which is a Mumbai hallmark.

The last few days have reinforced this antipathy towards politicians. Shivraj Patil is an easy target to attack, given his penchant for banal statements and lacklustre demeanour which have made him the butt of ridicule and this time round too he lived up to his waxwork image by indulging in inanities and platitudes. Then came an equally uninspiring speech to the nation by our most inarticulate of prime ministers, who is more at home in economic conclaves than in the trenches. An Indira Gandhi would have given the impression of leading from the front, resolute and yet human; Singh looks lost. LK Advani cannot make up his mind what he wants to be, the tough Sardar Patel clone or the statesman or the leader of the masses. He is in danger of losing the plot.

Advani did not indulge in cheap point-making, but his understudy more than made up for it.Narendra Modi came with a clever-by-half plan to show that he, and only he was resolute and firm against terrorism; the others were just namby-pamby milquetoasts who couldn’t be trusted to run the country. He took a potshot against the prime minister, surveyed the scene of the battle and announced funds to the state government — it was crassness all the way and by that one single act, Modi lost the carefully built image of the post-Gujarat riots administrator. It has shown to the people that a politician can never really change his spots, never mind the PR gloss. In comparison, the ineffectual Vilasrao Deshmukh’s lack of public appearance almost came as a relief.

In short, at a time when a traumatised city was looking for leadership, some balm and had questions on its mind, no one has led or soothed or come up with answers. Is it surprising that the city is seething? The blogs are full of calls for starting new “people’s movements”, the SMS messages speak of building grassroot organisations, anything that will be non-political. Most, if not all of these initiatives will fizzle out, but the point has been made and it is a point that politicians can only ignore at their peril.

This is a city that now is in search of certitudes. It is looking for someone to show the way. The NSG action, which finally terminated in finishing off the terrorists, though the eventual cost was heavy, has come in for praise. The death of police officers like Hamant Karkare, ridiculed very recently by LK Advani, has made them martyrs.

In keeping with this need for something to latch on to, the people of Mumbai have turned to the Taj Mahal hotel. It was always an icon, but now it has become a hero too. It burnt, it was desecrated, it was destroyed; but even in distress it showed grace. Its staff continued to provide service, it lost a few of its finest people but it did not fall, much less bow. It continues to stand proudly, facing the world; it has become a symbol of Mumbai itself.

If a politician wants to draw any lessons from this, he should emulate the Taj. Show honesty of purpose, integrity and a willingess to serve. Don’t indulge in cheap tactics. Don’t bend with every prevailing wind. And under pressure, stand up for what you believe in. It’s a tall order, but this is the only way to win the hearts of the people of Mumbai.

Email: sidharth01@dnaindia.net